[Lawrence] Larry Gibbs and Jim Gadwood were quoted regarding spending bill H.R. 2082, which would extend funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) through the 2017 tax season, but would not include a funding boost to increase customer service or fight identity theft. According to Gadwood, the decision to cover the IRS through the 2017 tax season could be a benefit despite the lack of additional funding, because the entire filing season would be covered, rather than part of it.

But a lack of additional funding "hurts everyone," said Gibbs, who served as IRS Commissioner in the Reagan administration. "Those who contact the IRS during the upcoming filing season are taxpayers who are trying to comply with our horribly complex tax laws in order to pay their fair share of taxes,” Gibbs said. "If they can't get through to the IRS, they may not be able to pay what they owe."